Processing apparatus for fiber cakes



Oct. 15, 1935. H. s. DRUM El AL 2,017,690

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Filed Aug. 15. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l WZZZk/II (01260)? BY I ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1935. s DRUM ET AL 2,017,690

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Filed Aug. 15. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHLL' mam Alarry'iiwzk ATTORN E Oct. 15, 1935. H s DRUM Er 2,017,690

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Filed Aug. 15. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 if I fi fi INVENTORG 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1935. H. 5.,DRUM ET AL 2,017,690

PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Filed Aug. 15. 1934 5 Shegts-Sheet 4 INVENTORS ATTORNEY" Oct. 15, 1935. H. s. DRUM ET AL PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Filed Aug. 15. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0% o o w; w

Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF! PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR FIBER CAKES Application August 15, 1934, Serial No. 739,996

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of silk threads or filaments or silk staple fiber or synthetic silk, or the like and more particularly to an apparatus for use in carrying out some or all of the steps in the manufacturing processes.

In the manufacture of products to which this invention relates it has heretofore been proposed to mount the annular spun fiber cake (the form which the material assumes after the setting bath, passing the godet wheel, and spinning box) upon a carrier which includes means for radially spraying liquids against the inner hard compact face of the cake and then causing such liquid to force its way through the cake by centrifugal action. In such prior structures the outer periphery of the cake is unprotected and is free to swell outwardly under the developed centrifugal force. As a result the rotating of the cake during the treating operations causes it to assume an uneven shape, more generally that of an ellipse, with the consequent dense packing of threads at one location while at others there will be a variation due to less dense packing. The general effect is non-uniformity of treatment. Furthermore confining the treating operations solely to the centrifugal flow of liquid through the hard cake makes it necessary to prolong the treatment unduly to ensure that the radial fiow of liquid overcomes the inherent resistance of the cake and completes each step in a thorough manner.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved apparatus for use in the manufacture of artificial silk having particular reference to the treatment of the preformed fiber cake; to provide an apparatus wherein provision is made for decreasing the treating time of each step without sacrificing the eificiency of such step or steps; to provide an apparatus for use with fiber cakes wherein the treatment of the cake is carried out by a body of liquid moving along a face of the cake and transversely with respect to an applied centrifugal force; to provide an apparatus for use in the treatment of fiber cakes wherein a flow of liquid takes place lengthwise or substantially parallel to the axis of the cake while there is a simultaneous fio-w trans.- versely or radially of the cake; to provide an apparatus for use in the treatment of fiber cakes wherein provision is made for subjecting the cake to a direct and reverse flow of liquid while also maintaining a progressive flow of liquid endwise of the cake; to provide a novel apparatus for forming and treating a fiber cake; to provide an apparatus wherein provision is made for preventing deforming of a fiber cake during the processing steps; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents a sectional elevation of one form of processing receptacle; Fig. 5 represents a sectional elevation of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 6 represents a section on line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 represents a sectional elevation of another form of the invention; Fig. 8 represents a sectional elevation of a further modification of theinvention; Fig. 9 represents a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 represents diagrammatically the result of the initial flow of liquid with respect to a fiber cake and in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 11 represents the same showing the liquid partly penetrating the cake; and Fig. 12 represents the same with the penetration completed.

Referring to the drawings one form of the present invention consists of a rotatable receptacle or bucket I0, the inner peripheral face ll of which is upwardly flared or tapered to conform substantially in size and shape to the outer periphery of the preformed fiber cake l2. Usually these cakes I2 are of annular, truncated shape. The construction, as here shown, is such as to permit the cake l2 to enter the receptacle it so that it assumes a predetermined position with its outer periphery flush with the inner face ll oi the receptacle H1. The inner peripheral face ll of the receptacle ID, as here shown, is provided with a plurality of grooves l3 which extend side by side in curved or inclined relation from the lower portion of the receptacle to a point in close proximity to the mouth or open end of the receptacle In. The direction of the incline or curve of these grooves I3 is in the direction to form a path for liquid expelled or discharged by centrifugal force from the cake I2. Thus if the receptacle I0 is arranged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, these grooves l3 will leave a common plane near the bottom of the receptacle and curve upwardly and circumferentially to the right as seen in Fig. 4: to terminate in a plane near the top of the receptacle. The upper or outlet ends of the grooves l 3 not only terminate below the rim of the mouth of the receptacle but in juxtaposed relation to the outer periphery of acake operatively positioned in the receptacle. The function of this construction is to provide a circumferential escape for the liquid discharged from the outer periphery of the cake I2, as otherwise the liquid backing up on this periphery would prevent the necessary leaching from taking place. Furthermore the grooves I3 have the function of causing the liquid to reenter the cake near the upper end thereof and pass through it in a direction reverse to that caused by the centrifugal action. Coaxially located on the bottom of the receptacle I is a hub I4 which is made fast in any suitable manner to a driven shaft I5 operatively associated with any suitable source of power.

For supporting the cake I2v in the receptacle I0, an annular plate I6 is mounted in the receptacle in spaced relation to the bottom thereof by means of spacer blocks I1 and screws I8 or like fastening devices passing through the bottom of the receptacle and entering the plate I6. The diameter of the plate I6 is such as to fit snugly at its designed location within the receptacle II). A liquid supply pipe I9 is made fast at its lower end in the aperture of the plate I6 and rises coaxially within the receptacle II) to project above the top thereof. This construction provides a passage for entering liquid downwardly through the pipe I9 into the space 20, and then outwardly or radially to the inner wall of the receptacle where, as here shown, it has an escape by way of a. plurality of substantially vertically disposed passages 2I through the plate I 6. That circumferential portion of the plate I6 which is provided with the passages 2I has a width substantially equal to the thickness of the cake 1 2 so that the discharge ends of the passages 2I will be juxtaposed with respect to the bottom annular face of the cake I2 when the latter is in treating position.

For retaining the cake I2 in this position upon the plate I6 within the receptacle Ill, a cover plate 22 is provided which is apertured to fit over the pipe I9 and seats on a circumferential shoulder 23 formed by the top flange 24 of the receptacle I 0. As here shown, this cover plate 22 is made fast by screws 25 to a core 26 which fits about the pipe I9 and has its outer surface tapered to conform to the inner surface of the cake I2. The'tapering diameter, however, of this core 26 is such that when the core is in position an annular space 21 will be formed between it and the opposed face of the cake I2 so that treating liquid discharged from the passages 2I will have a relatively restricted channel for flow along that face of the cake.

In order that the treating liquid or wash water flowing upwardly through the cake I2 and discharging from the passages 2| may have a suitable escape to the exterior of the receptacle, circumferentially arranged rows of openings or slots 28 are provided through the plate 22 and are so located that their inlet ends are in abutting relation to the upper face of the cake I2. Also it will be noted that these openings or slots 28 are positioned closer to the inner periphery of the cake l2 than to the outer periphery thereof in order not to prematurely release the reverse flow of the treating liquid from the outer side of the cake to the inner side. I

In the form of the invention here illustrated the rows of openings 28 are radially arranged circumferentially around the plate 22, and preferably the outermost opening of each row is of larger diameter than the innermost opening. This provides for a restricted discharge where there is a maximum volume of flowing liquid so that a larger portion of it is diverted and caused former figures though in this instance its upper circumferential edge is threaded as shown at 33 for the purpose of receiving a fastening ring 35.

In this form of the invention the cake 35 is fitted with a core 36, after it has been formed in the spinning bucket, and the outer circumference of this core is tapered to conform to the inner periphery of the cake though of slightly less diameter throughout its length in order to have a loose fit within the cake. I'nis loose fit provides for an annular chamber 3! corresponding in function to the chamber 21 in the construction shown in Fig. 1. One end of the core 36 is preferably formed with a flange 38 which serves as a support for the cake when transferringit from the spinning bucket to the processing receptacle 32. This flange 38 is provided with rows of perforations II] which open'at one end against the juxtaposed face of the cake and at the other end communicate with the atmosphere through the aperture of the ring 38. For transferring the cake 35 and its core 36 from the spinning bucket to the receptacle 32, a tubular stem II is provided of a shape and size such as to pass readily through the axial opening ofthe core 36. As a part of this stem II, a flange 42 is provided of such a diameter as to seat against the opposite face of the cake from that with which the flange 38 contacts. Circumferentially disposed about the inner portion of this flange 42 are one or more rows of perforations 43 so arranged as to open against the end of the seated cake 35. The diameter of the flange 42 is also such as to fit snugly within the receptacle 32 and form a false bottom therefor which is supported in spaced relation to the bottom of the receptacle by means of an annular shoulder 44 or any other suitable spacing means. Thus when the stem 4| and its flange 42 is within the receptacle 32, it provides a space 45 which communicates with the bore 46 and also with the perforations 43. In connection with the stem 4| it should be noted that this extends well through the core 36 in order to form a handle or gripping member 41 by which the cake and its supporting parts can be taken from one place to another. Thus it will be seen from Fig. 5 that the core 36, in assembled condition, is in an inverted position with respect to its initial positionwithin the cake and its flange 38 therefore forms a top or cover for the receptacle 30 being arranged to seat on an annular shoulder 50 formed in the upper rim of the receptacle. When in this position the clamping ring 34 can be screwed into position and thus hold the parts during the processing operations.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the supporting core and flange stem part is similarly arranged as described in connection with Fig. 5, but in this instance a supplemental sleeve 5| is provided to serve as the initial core or supporting means for the cake 35. It will be understood that the core 36, above described, is somewhat reduced in diameter to allow the sleeve 5| to flt over it when it is placed thereon with its fiber cake in place. This sleeve 5| is tapered to conform to the tapered opening of the fiber cake but is of somewhat smaller diameter in order to have a loose fit thereon and provide an annular chamber 52 between the cake andthe sleeve through which the treating liquid rises freely to travel along the inner periphery of the cake. Also it is preferable to provide this sleeve 5| with radially disposed holes 53 which are arranged to open against the inner periphery of the cake to serve as passages for a drying medium when the core 36 is removed therefrom.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a construction is shown which includes a novel and original device for use as an adjunct of the spinning operation which forms the fiber cake. This device, as here shown, consists of a cup 66 having an annular bottom-6| and is of a size suitable to fit within the usual type of processing receptacle 62. The contour of the cup 60 corresponds generally to the shape which the formed fiber cake is to assume and when the cup 60 is located within the ordinary spinning bucket the fiber filaments are spun directly into it instead of into the bucket as in the usual practice. When the cake is formed and has been removed in the cup 66 from the bucket, the cup and its contained cake are inserted within the receptacle 62 for the processing steps. In carrying out this portion of the cake treating it has been found desirable in the present novel method to provide an annular space 63 between the outer wall of the cup 60 and the inner wall of the receptacle 6L To that end the upper circumferential edge 64 of the cup is of greater diameter than the correspondingly downwardly tapered edge so that the latter is spaced from the receptacle 62 throughout its length. In order that this spacing may be properly formed the lower circumferential edge 65 of the cup 66 is of step formation to conform to the configuration of a stepped ring 66 which is located within and fits about the bottom corner of the receptacle 62. The edge 65 then seats in the ring 66 so that the annular chamber 63 is provided which is closed at its top and bottom.

For the purpose of permitting the treating liquid to enter the cake 35, a tubular core 61 is provided of a size to fit loosely within the opening f the cake 60, so that its lower end seats against the flange 6!. This construction provides a passage 68 axially through the core 61 and communicating with the space 16 formed between the bottom 6| of the cup 66 and the receptacle 62. This loose fit of the core 61 in the cake provides the passage 69 along the inner face of the cake by means of which the entering treating liquid finds a path of least resistance to fiow around the cake and produce the novel surface treatment of the invention. From this space 16 the treating liquid has free access to the lower or bottom face of the cake 35 by means of ports ll arranged circumferentially about the bottom 6| in such a position that each opens against this face of the cake. The discharge of this liquid from the cake takes place by way of ports 12 formed in the flange 13 of the core 67, it being observed that the flange 73 also serves as a cover for the cup 62 and seats thereon through the medium of a packing ring 14. An annular clamping ring 15 is arranged for threaded engagement with the rim of the receptacle 62 and serves to hold the core 6'! with its fiange 13 in place as well as the cake during the processing operations. While the general direction of flow of the liquid is upwardly and endwise of the cake it is also caused to travel transversely outwardly of the cake due,

to the rotation of the receptacle 62 during the processing operation, and therefore it is desirable to relieve any back pressure at the outer periphcry of the cake by providing laterally disposed passages 16 through the wall of the cup 60 and communicating with the surrounding passage 63. Also it should be noted that the wall of the receptacle 62 is preferably provided with relief passages 11 near the upper end of the passage 63 and communicating therewith so that any excess liquid will find an escape by way of these passages I1.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive, the bucket I6 is provided with a plurality of vanes 18 located on the bottom thereof in a circumferential arrangement between the outlet of the liquid supply bore and the circumferentially arranged passages leading to the bottom of the fiber cake. Each of these vanes is of such a shape as to impel the entering liquid radially outward toward the aforesaid passages and thereby increase its velocity so that it enters the passages with a pressure greater than the normal pressure of the liquid travelling downwardly through the bore. The vanes are so arranged that they strike the liquid the moment it emerges from the liquid supply bore and prior to the time it has any flow by centrifugal force, thus exerting a positive impelling force not dependent upon rapid rotation of the bucket. This increased velocity is an important feature of the invention since it makes it possible to obtain the necessary initial velocity with a relatively low rotating speed of the bucket. This low speed of rotation materially reduces the cost of manufacture because parts can be used which ordinarily would not stand the wear and tear of highspeed rotation.

Also in conjunction with the aforesaid figures it should be noted that the liquid supply bore, whether it be in a stem as described in connection with Figs. 5 and 7, or in a core as described in conjunction with Fig. 8, is of tapered construction with the smaller diameter at the inlet end and the larger diameter at the outlet end. The effect of this taper is to counteract the tendency of the liquid under centrifugal force to back up into the bore and its effect is to produce a reacting force such as will increase the pressure instead of diminishing it as would be the case in a bore of uniform diameter.

In prior apparatus and methods for treating fiber cakes it has been the general practice to force the treating liquid transversely through the cake and as this direction of flow meets the maximum resistance of the cake the complete saturation and treating of the cake requires a considerable period of time. The present invention, however, is distinguished from such prior methods in that the flow of liquid takes place endwise or parallel to the axis of the cake and along a resistance relieving channel and thereby accomplishes what neither the crosswise nor oblique fiow of prior methods is possible to ob tain in the same period of time. That is to say by an endwise flow the time of properly processing to bring about uniformity of penetration of the cake is approximately cut in half- By the provision of the annular passageway along the inner periphery of the cake a line of slight initial resistance is provided which allows the entering liquid to flow freely along this inner face without encountering the direct resistance of the hard cake body and therefore as this face treatment continues the liquid gradually washes its way deeper and deeper into the body. Thus, as will be seen from Fig. 10, the first effect of releasing the liquid against the bottom of the cake is to subject that portion of the cake to the pressure of the incoming liquid and since the cake at this time is in a state of hardness resistant to any flow, the entering liquid naturally seeks the line of least resistance and works its waythrough the inner bottom corner of the cake to the passage. It then rises to leach or treat the inner cake face and when the liquid reaches the top of the cake it forces its way laterally outward across the inner upper corner to the discharge passages. This travel is illustrated in Fig. 10 and shows a cake after one minutes treatment by the present apparatus and method. With a continued flow of the liquid endwise of the cake and subject to the centrifugal action these treated corner areas increase in size while the surface leaching or treating extends deeper into the cake until after some three minutes of treatment the cake will appear as shown in Fig. 11. Finally the areas have extended until the entire cake is saturated as shown in Fig. 12 which is the result of eight minutes treatment by the present apparatus. Thus at all times after the preliminary steps the cake is completely submerged in a body of liquid moving progressively upwardly and inwardly of the cake toward the discharge outlets to quickly and effectively wash or treat the cake in the desired manner. It should be noted also that the grooves in the inner wall of the receptacle serve to relieve back pressure which would otherwise exist at the outer periphery of the cake and this liquid entering the grooves travels upwardly to discharge against the upper portion of the outer face of the cake and flow inwardly across the body to the outlet passages.

It will now be apparent that a simple and emcient apparatus has been devised for processing fiber cakes and wherein the cake is subjected to the flow of liquid under pressure endwise through and around the cake so that the washing or treating takes place in a progressive manner. It should also be noted by this improved apparatus and method that the cake is subjected to pressure on all sides during treatment by reason of the fact that it is submerged. in the liquid and while so submerged is subjected to a rotating action. Furthermore the outer or normally exposed face of the cake is confined in a retaining wall during the processing operations so that the fibers are prevented from displacement by the liquid pressure.

While in the foregoing the term fiber cake has been used as the material treated it is to be understood this is used in'a generic sense and that the various materials in other forms can be successfully processed by the present invention.

While only four forms are here shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any specific construction but might be applied to various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our claim:

1. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a rotatable receptacle for receiving a fiber cake, means to cause an endwise flow of invention, we

liquid through said cake, and means torotate said receptacle to cause a transverse flow of liquid in said cake. 4

2. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes com prising a support for a fiber cake, a circumferential wall encircling the outer periphery of said cake, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of said cake, said walls forming a passage for liquid having an inlet at one end of said cake and an outlet at the other end of said cake, means for feeding liquid to the inlet of and through said passage, and means for causing said liquid to flow in an angular direction with respect to its direction of flow through said passages. 15

3. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a support for a fiber cake, a circumferential wall encircling and in contact with the outer periphery of said cake, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of said cake but spaced therefrom, said walls forming a passage for liquid having an inlet at one end of said cake and an outlet at the other end of said cake, means for feeding liquid to the inlet of and through said passage, and means to rotate said cake while said liquid is travelling endwise therethrough.

4. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a support for a fiber cake, a circumferential wall encircling the outer periphery of said cake having grooves therein juxtaposed with respect to said cake, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of said cake, said walls forming a passage for liquid having an inlet at one end of said cake and an outlet at the other end of said cake, and means for feeding liquid to the inlet of and through said passage.

5. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a rotatable receptacle adapted to receive 40 a fiber cake endwise therein, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of the cake and forming a passage for liquid between said wall and the receptacle, an annular member supporting said cake in said passage, means to support said member to form a chamber in the bottom of said receptacle, said member having openings leading from said chamber to the bottom of said cake, and means for causing a flow of liquid into said chamber and through said openings to pass endwise through said cake in said passage.

6. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a rotatable receptacle adapted to receive a fiber cake endwise therein, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of the cake and forming a passage for liquid between said wall and the receptacle, an annular member supporting said cake in said passage, means to support said member to form a chamber in the bottom of said receptacle, said member having openings leading from said chamber to the bottom of said cake, means for causing a flow of liquid into said chamber and through said openings to pass endwise through said cake in said passage, and means to rotate said receptacle during the fiow of liquid through said chamber.

'7. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a rotatable receptacle adapted to receive a fiber cake endwise therein, a circumferential imperforate wall encircled by the inner periphery of the cake and forming a passage for liquid between said wall and the receptacle, an annular member supporting said cake in said passage, means to support said member to form a chamber in the bottom of said receptacle, said member having openings leading from said chamber to the bottom of said cake, means for causing a flow of liquid into said chamber and through said openings to pass endwise through and around said cake in said passage, and means to prevent endwise movement of said cake during said flow of liquid.

8. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a rotatable receptacle, an annular member supporting said cake in endwise position in said receptacle, means to support said member to form a chamber in the bottom of said receptacle, said member having openings leading from said chamber, to the bottom of said cake, means including an outwardly tapered bore for causing a flow of liquid into said chamber, impeller vanes in the path of said liquid, and means to rotate said receptacle.

9. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a sleeve arranged to fit within a preformed cake, a stem passing through said sleeve having a flange seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a receptacle, means in said receptacle for supporting said flange in spaced relation from the bottom thereof and so that the wall of said receptacle encircles said cake, a cover for said receptacle having passages opening in juxtaposed relation to the end of said cake, and means to conduct liquid through said stem to the inlets of said flange passages.

10. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a sleeve arranged to fit within a preformed cake, a stem passing through said sleeve having a flange seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a receptacle, means in said receptacle for supporting said flange in spaced relation from the bottom thereof and so that the Wall of said receptacle encircles said cake, a cover for said receptacle having passages opening in juxtaposed relation to the end of said cake, means to conduct liquid through said stem to the inlets of said flange passages, and means to rotate said receptacle.

11. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a perforated sleeve arranged to fit within a preformed cake, a core passing through said sleeve and arranged to cover the perforations in said sleeve, a flange on said core seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a tubular stem extending through said core, a flange on said stem having passages in juxtaposed relation to the bottom of said cake, a receptacle, and means in said receptacle for supporting said tubular stem spaced from the bottom of said receptacle, whereby liquid entering through said stem has access to said bottom flange passages.

12. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a perforated sleeve arranged to fit within a preformed cake, a core passing through said sleeve and arranged to cover the perforations in said sleeve, a flange on said core seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a tubular stem extending through said core, a flange on said stem having passages in juxtaposed relation to the bottom of said cake, a receptacle,

means in said receptacle for supporting said tu {i bular stem spaced from the bottom of said receptacle, whereby liquid entering through said stem has access to said bottom flange passages, and means to rotate said receptacle.

13. An apparatus for treating fiber cakescom- 10 prising a sleeve arranged to fit within a preformed cake, a core passing through said sleeve having a flange seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a receptacle having grooves on 15 theinner wall thereof, means in said receptacle for supporting said flange in spaced relation from the bottom thereof and so that the wall of said receptacle encircles, said cake, a cover for said receptacle having passages opening in juxtaposed 0 relation to the end of said cake, and means to conduct liquid through said core to the inlets of said flange passages.

14. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a sleeve arranged tofit within a pre- 25 formed cake, a core passing through said sleeve having a flange seating against an end of said cake, said flange having passages therethrough opening against said cake, a receptacle having grooves on the inner wall thereof, means in said 30 receptacle for supporting said flange in spaced relation from the bottom thereof and so that the wall of said receptacle encircles said cake, a cover for said receptacle having passages opening in juxtaposed relation to the end of said cake, means 35 to conduct liquid through said core to the inlets of said flange passages, and means to rotate said receptacle.

15. In an apparatus for processing fiber cakes, the combination of a receptacle, a device for sup- 40 porting a fiber cake in said receptacle, means v forming with the inner face of said cake a passage lengthwise of said cake, means for delivering a supply of liquid to the bottom of said cake to maintain a flow through said cake and pas- 45 sage, cover means forming discharge passages communicating with the upper end of said cake, and means to rotate said receptacle.

16. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a support for a fiber cake, a receptacle 60 encircling said cake, means to space said cake support from the bottom of said receptacle, impeller vanes in said space, a memberhaving a bore for delivering liquid to said space, and means for rotating said receptacle. 55

17. An apparatus for treating fiber cakes comprising a support for a fiber cake, a receptacle encircling said cake, means to space said cake support from the bottom of said receptacle, impeller vanes in said space, a member having a bore 60 increasing in diameter toward said space, and means for rotating said receptacle.

HARRY S. DRUM. WILLIAM C. DODSON. 65 

